NASCAR: Biffle rejects criticism for turning down White House invite

Greg Biffle takes great offense to writers and broadcasters who've criticized him and three other drivers for not going to the White House to meet with President Obama next week. The president has invited last year's 12 Chase drivers to a Wednesday afternoon reception and Biffle is among those who've sent their regrets. On Friday, the Ford driver for Roush Fenway Racing took on the media who (in his mind) doesn't have a clue about what's really going on.

“I'm disgusted by the comments I see where people say we rejected or ‘I can't believe Biffle rejected' (a White House invitation),” he said. “First, it's disrespectful for people not knowing why I can't go. Second, I've got a picture in my office of me and President Obama shaking hands in the Oval Office in the White House. I've been there and I've done that, and I respect that.

“I was very flattered to get the invitation. I got it less than two weeks ago but I've got a function with (major sponsor) 3M in Minnesota that day. They've planned it for nine months, an annual thing with over a hundred-and-some business people and customers for two days. I get there early Wednesday morning and don't get to Richmond until late Thursday night. This is very important because the function is designed around me. They really can't have it if I don't go.”

More than anything, Biffle is angry that the media have suggested he doesn't want to visit the White House again or meet the president.

“It's discouraging to see those comments when somebody doesn't know the circumstance,” he said. “If I hadn't already been and hadn't already met him and already shaken his hand and been in the oval office, I might try to chisel my sponsor harder to let me go. But I don't want to put this on them; it's simply that I have an obligation that I accepted long before this. Does ‘rejected' mean I refuse to go? Or does it mean I can't make it, that I want to go but can't? A lot of times we can move our schedules around depending on what it might be, but when you have people coming from other countries who're planning to meet you and be with you for a day-and-a-half, it's hard to change that. This is a big event; we looked at the logistics of trying to shift the date, and it just doesn't work.”